Foldable tree holder



Nov. 28, 1950 w. T. KENNEL.

FOLDABLE TREE HOLDER Fi1e d May 8, 1948 L IIIIII... l I I III r Il llllllll'll HTTRNE Y Patented Nov. 28,1" 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE TREE HOLDER Willard T. Kennel, Kalispel, Mont.

Application May 8, 1948, Serial No. 25,851

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to the general class of supports of the staff type, and more specifically to an improved foldable tree-holder, stand, or base, which while well adapted for various purposes and uses, is especially designed for supporting a Christmas tree in erect and stabilized position, and whichy when not in use may readily be folded into compact shape and small size for storage between seasons of use. In its folded form the tree holder or stand may be inserted for storage ina piece of hollow household furniture, as for instance in the tubular column or post of a smokers stand lwhere it is invisible, but readily accessible for use when required.

In carrying out `my invention I utilize a minimum number of parts that may be manufactured with facility and low cost of production, and the parts may be assembled with convenience to provide a mechanical structure that may be manipulated with facility, and which is durable and efhcient in the performance of its required functions.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts in the tree holder or stand as will hereinafter be described. and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a complete example of a physical embodiment of my invention in which the parts are combined and arranged in accord with one mode I have devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. It will however be understood that changes and alterations are contemplated and may be made in these exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures, within the scope of my claims without departing from the principles of my invention.

Figure l is a view in elevation of a, smokers stand having a tubular post or column, in which the folded tree holder is stored as shown by dotted lines, with a portion of the stand broken away fol` convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the appliance in position for use, and by dotted lines indicating the manner of folding or unfolding its movable parts; and

Figure 3 is a detail vertical sectional view of the tree holder, on a smaller scale.

In this preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings I employ as a base a cylindrical cup or container I of suitable metal that may be east with a closed bottom 2, and an exterior annular bottom flange 3. The bottom of the holder is provided with a central opening for a wood screw 4 that is designed to be screwed into the flat butt end of a felled tree, and of course the holder or tubular base is to be fitted over the butt end of the tree in usual manner.

The base or lower end of the holder is equipped with a circumferentially arranged and radially extending exterior and perforated group or series of ears 5 welded or otherwise secured on the holder and its flange, and three or more legs, as 6, are pivoted at I in the ears and adapted'to be swung to radially extended position for supporting the holder and tree, as indicated in Fig. 2.

In extended position the legs are braced by complementary arms 8, each pivoted at 9 to a leg, and the upper ends of these braces are hinged at I0 to a circumferentially spaced series of perforated ears II that are welded on the exterior of an annular gripping band I2 of substantially the same diameter as that of the holder and adapted to seat on its upper circular end. As indicated in Fig. 2, the lower edges of the ears II project below the lower edge of the band to form centering lugs or extensions I3, and these lugs or lips engage over the upper edge of the cylindrical holder to provide a rigid support for the arms as they brace the legs in outspread position for supporting the tree.

In folded position, the holder is slipped over the butt end of the tree, then the annular band is moved into contact with the open end of the holder or cup I into which the butt-end of the tree has been `fastened by the screw 4, as described. The sliding movement of the gripping band on the tree spreads the arms and legs to extended position and the engagement of the overlapping lips 01 lugs I3 on the ears II over the upper edge of the cup firmly seats the band in place. The annular band is now secured or locked in place on the tree by means of screws I 4 that are threaded through bosses I5 on the exterior of the band or ring I2, and the outspreading support or stand is thus securely attached to the tree to provide a wide base for supporting the tree in stabilized and upright position.

After the tree is supported in upright position a suitable quantity of water may be poured into the cup I to aid in preserving the foliage on the tree.

After the holder has served its purpose it may readily be detached from the tree, the arms and legs may be folded into approximate parallelism with the cup I to axially aline the band in extended position, and the folded appliance may then be stored in the tubular column or post I6 of the smokers stand in Fig. l. The tubular post I 6, which supports an ash tray I 'I and a,

table I8, is provided with a hollow base I9 into and through which the folded holder is inserted, and the holder is then supported by a spring detent 20 within the base, as indicated by dotted lines.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a foldable tree-holder the combination with an upright open top container having a set of circumierentially spaced out-spreading legs hinged thereto, and a separate gripping band having a complementary set of ears, and centering lugs on the band adapted to engage over the adjoining open top of the container, of a set of brace-arms pivotally connecting the legs With the ears, and fastening means on the band for gripping a tree located in the holder.

2. In a ioldable tree-holder, the combination with an upright container having a closed bottom and an attaching screw mounted in the bottom, a set of circumferentially spaced out-spreading legs hinged to the bottom of the container, a separate band having a circumferentially arranged set of ears, and a centering` lug on each ear engaged over the upper edge of the container, of a set of brace-arms pivotally connecting the legs with the ears, and a set of gripping screws threaded in the band for engagement with a tree.

3. In a foldable tree holder, the combination with an upright stationary container having a closed bottom and an exterior annular bottom flange, and a separate gripping band alined with and located above the container, of a set of radially outspreading legs hinged directly to the bottom portion of the container, a complementary set of brace arms pivotally connecting the legs and the band, and a plurality of screws threaded through the band for gripping a tree.

4. In a foldable tree holder, the combination with an open top cylindrical and stationary container having a set of circumferentially spaced ears, a separate gripping band alined with and located above the container, and a complementary set of ears on the band, of a set of outspreading legs hinged directly to the ears of the container, a complementary set of brace arms pivotally uniting the ears of the band with the legs, centering means on the band for engagement with the open top of the container, and a plurality of screws threaded through the band for gripping a tree.

WILLARD T. KENNEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,579,275 Zeigler April 6, 1926 1,766,170 Goldwood June 24, 1930 

